Disclaimer: I do not own Inu-Yasha. (That's a shock and a half, right? ^_~)

Author's Note: Hiya, guys! Here it is! (Finally) My Valentine's Day/White
Day one shot. Took me long enough, I know, so I hope you enjoy it. ^_^

First, a quick explanation: White Day, which falls on March 14th, is the
day you give gifts to the people who gave you Valentines. It's a Japanese
holiday.

Anyway, this is a beautiful song called 'And So It Goes', originally done
by Billy Joel. I'm using the lyrics from the SATB (soprano, alto, tenor,
base) a cappella version for 'Vocal Jazz'. I think all the words are the
same, but if they're not, or I'm missing a verse or two, that's why. ^_^;

Please enjoy!

~*~

*

*

*

~The Rose~

-Inu-Yasha's PoV-

*

*

*

~ In every heart

There is a room

A sanctuary safe and strong

To heal the wounds

From lovers past

Until a new one comes along~

*

"Hey, Inu-Yasha?"

I grunt a response, not bothering to look up at Kagome as she continues to
shuffle through countless pink papers. Instead I ignore her, replacing the
sound of the rustling parchment with the gentle rushing of the river beside
us. Picking a few, smooth, rounded stones off of the riverbed, I begin to
flick them listlessly into the crystal blue waters.

"Can you help me?" she asks, holding out half of her pile and glancing at
me with a hopeful expression. I regard her rather coldly, wrinkling my nose
at the perfume wafting from the papers.

"What the hell are they?" I question slowly, making no move to take the
scented notes. "They smell like sardines."

A flash of hurt annoyance flickers through her stormy eyes.

. . .

Whenever she wears that angry expression- even if just for a moment. . .

It. . .

Reminds me of. . .

. . .

"They're white day cards," she explains, quickly regaining her perky edge
and stuffing the cards into my hands. "I need you to help me put these
heart-shaped stickers on them."

"What are they for?" I inquire slowly, flipping through them and glancing
at the names. Despite popular belief, I *can* read. I didn't live my
childhood years in a castle for nothing. But at the moment I sort of wish
that I couldn't, considering all the names in my hands quite obviously
belonged to other boys.

~ I spoke to you

In cautious tones~

"You give them to people who gave you Valentine's gifts," she replies,
making a few smiley faces on a card with a pink pen.

~You answered me with no pretense~

"Why?" I grind my teeth, eyes locked on the thick packet of parchment in my
hands as I work to swallow an all-out growl. Jealousy courses through me
like a poison, infecting all my thoughts and actions. Why was she giving
things to other males?!

"They're to say 'thank you' and all that," she beams, but quickly frowns as
I round on her.

"No! Why are they all to MEN?!" I snap, clawed fingers pointing roughly to
the many crisp, neat kanji symbols on the cards. And why isn't *my* name on
one. . . ?! Don't *I* deserve a card?! My heart pounds painfully, throbbing
as if it's been stabbed.

It feels like it has been- by betrayal. Kagome is *mine*!

. . .

Even if she doesn't know it yet.

She glares coldly at my rudeness, her hand clenching the material of her
skirt- completely oblivious to how these cards are hurting me. "Because
they're the ones who gave me Valentines!"

"Yeah, right!" I snarl, flicking the papers away and allowing them to float
on the breeze as Kagome gapes, open-mouthed. "You're just flirting with
them or something!" The mere prospect of which makes me want to kill
something.

"What?! I don't even know many of them all that well!" she retorts, her
voice growing louder. "And besides, even if that were true- why do YOU
care?!"

A growl reverberates in the back of my throat. "Because, stupid! I- - -"

"Inu-Yasha. . ." she tries again, a little gentler than before. "What were
you saying?"

I don't reply. Instead, I stare silently at the sky.

~My silence is my self-defense~

"Inu-Yasha, please- talk to me."

Still, I don't answer. What could I say? 'Kagome, just a moment ago I
almost shouted my secret feelings for you'?! Yeah, right! Besides- she
doesn't want to hear that shit- she's got to many suitors back 'HOME' to
think about!

"Inu-Yasha, what's wrong?" Kagome tries for a third time, never suspecting
the thoughts that are going through my head. "Why won't you talk to me?!
What did I ever do to you?!" she pouts, crossing her arms over her chest.

What did she ever do to me. . . ?! My eye twitches slightly in irritation.
That does it.

"Inu-Ya- - - !"

"Shut up!" I roar, getting to my feet in a huff. "Just shut up and give
your stupid cards to the god-damn morons in your time! AND STAY THERE,
WHILE YOU'RE AT IT!" She might as well if those fools over there are all
she can think about!

She stares, wide-eyed, at me for a moment- totally taken aback- before
beginning to tremble- - -

With rage.

"What is YOUR PROBLEM?!" she explodes, standing and putting her hands on
her hips; looking up at me with fury filled blue orbs.

"I'm simply SICK of hearing you GUSH about OTHER GUYS!"

"I am not GUSHING! Besides, I REPEAT: WHY would YOU care, even if I WAS?!"

I fall silent again, not wanting to answer that question. However, I don't
back down in the slightest- instead I lock fiery gazes with her and refuse
to blink. Eventually her eyes become so dry she has to, and accompanies
said blinking with a loud 'Humph!'.

"I don't know why I even bother with your jealousy," Kagome grumbles,
flopping back to the ground- - - as I freeze. She knows I'm jealous. . . ?
"It's so dumb, especially when you keep chasing after KIKYO."

!

"What does Kikyo have to do with anything?" I snarl in warning tones.
Kagome glares icily at me from over her shoulder.

"Don't be stupid, Inu-Yasha! You get SO jealous when I talk to other guys
and then the next minute you run off to HER!"

A bon-fire of irritation burst to life inside me.

"What?! I am NOT jealous and I do NOT *always* run off to Kikyo!"

"You do too!" she snarls. "And it's beginning to annoy me!"

"I'm sure not as much as YOU annoy ME!" I bark, my mouth running amuck as
my brain screams that I should shut up. But, just like the fool I know I
can many times be (not that I'll admit that to anyone), I don't listen.
"ALL you DO is flirt, flirt, flirt!"

"That is NOT true! Just because I'm nice to them, doesn't mean I FLIRT!"

"It IS true!"

"WELL, AT LEAST YOU HAVE *KIKYO* TO MAKE UP FOR THAT, RIGHT?!" Kagome
screams, her eyes screwed shut in anger.

"AT LEAST KIKYO ISN'T A BITCH LIKE *YOU*!" I yell just as loudly, turning
away and storming off. "MAYBE I *SHOULD* RUN OFF TO HER- SO YOU CAN RUN
BACK TO ALL THE LOVE-SICK FOOLS IN YOUR TIME!"

I can feel her eyes piercing my back as I leave, but she doesn't make a
sound.

I don't see her for the rest of the day.

*

I can tell something odd is going on a soon as I awaken the next morning.
It's not that I can see it- not with my eyes still closed and all. And it's
not that I can taste it or feel it or hear it.

I can smell it. Something different, and yet. . .

I'm used to waking up in the mornings with sweet smell of floral vanilla
tickling my nose- the unique scent that always wafts from Kagome. I savor
that smell- especially at the break of dawn. The air is already so fresh at
sunrise that her scent always seemed twice as wonderful. For the past three
years I've spent every waking moment trying to figure out a way to keep
that stench with me at all times, even when Kagome's gone.

But I've failed.

Even stealing one of her blouses didn't help. Without its owner to restock
the quickly lost scent, the smell eventually fades to nothingness.

The only way I can think of is to keep Kagome with me. But. . .

. . .

I don't want to hurt again. Maybe that's why I start so many fights. A
stupid belief that 'sure, a fight may hurt the soul and heart now, but then
I'll be ready for the big blow- when she leaves forever- and it won't hurt
so much'. But. . . Maybe I'm just driving her away . . . ? I don't want to
feel that burning ache in my heart anymore- so why am I purposely
inflicting it? Perhaps if I tell her. . .

No, then she'll only laugh and avoid me.

. . .

After a few groggy moments that I'm not at all familiar with (considering I
rarely ever sleep), I manage to pry my heavy lidded eyes open to look
around for the source of the sweet, familiarly unfamiliar smell. I can
almost taste the delicious vanilla of Kagome, but. . .

Why do I also smell rose?

I learn why as soon as I open my eyes. Sitting on my chest, silky petals
almost touching my nose, is a blood-red rose.

?

Sitting up carefully and bracing my back against the tree trunk I'm up
against, I reposition myself on the forest floor- wincing as a thorn pricks
my thumb.

~And every time

I've held a rose

It seems I only feel the thorns~

Cradling the blossom gently, I examine the flower with narrowed eyes. Where
did it come from? What's it for? Why is there a note tied to it's stem. . .
?

Maybe that note will have the answers.

Carefully lifting a claw, I slit the red ribbon that links the flower and
card. No problem. Unfolding the thin, fragile, pink paper, I begin to read
with curiosity.

*Dear Inu-Yasha,

Happy White Day! You didn't get me a Valentine last month, but I wanted to
do something special for you anyway. I hope you like roses. They smell
better than sardines, right?*

*Anyway, by the time you read this, I'll be back in my own era. I guess
there's just not enough space around here for two mikos, huh? Especially
when one is such a bitch, like me. Give Kikyo my best, next time you see
her. I'm sure she'll be glad to know I'm gone.*

Gone. . . ?

~And so it goes

And so it goes

And so will you I suppose~

*Yes, that's right, I'm gone. And I'm not coming back. At least, not for a
long while. I need a break from all this. I need a break from you.

From your inability to trust me.*

But. . .

I *do* trust you, Kagome! Why is she saying this- - - ?

. . .

~But if my silence made you leave

Then that would be my worst mistake~

*Why can't you just tell me what's on your mind? If you did, we wouldn't
fight so much. Well, okay, we'd probably find something else to fight over,
but all the same. . .

Oh- before I forget. I just thought I'd mention that I've decided not to
give out my other white day cards. Hope you appreciate that.

Good bye.

Love Always, Kagome*

I blink slowly down at the letter, my hands shaking slightly as I clutch my
rose.

She isn't going to give the other cards. . . ? Because of me?

Could she. . .

Could she actually. . .

Like me the way I like her. . . ? Is that her way to show she cares?

I slowly begin to get to my feet- - -

!

When I catch myself and realize what I'm thinking.

No! I can't tell her that I love her! Not after she just decided to leave!
Besides- just because she said she's not to give the other cards doesn't
tell me anything! She may have just run out of time or something!

But . . .

I swallow hard, looking down at the innocent blossom in my hands- the one
that contains just a hint of floral vanilla.

. . .

I dash towards the well.

This may be romantic suicide, but. . .

There's only one way to find out. (To my knowledge, at least.)

~So I will share

This room with you

And you may have this heart to break~

*

She's sitting in her room when I get there, studying silently at her desk.
But by the glitter of tears in her eyes I can tell she doesn't really have
her heart in her reading. I perch myself in the tree just outside her
window, watching her. My courage to burst in and tell her my feelings has
pretty much failed me, despite the fact that I *should* have loads and
loads of it. Well, there's a difference between 'spilling-your-guts-in-a-
battle' courage and 'spilling-your-guts-to-your-love' courage.

I sigh silently, leaning back against the rough bark and closing my eyes,
dangling a leg off the branch.

Maybe I *shouldn't* tell her. . . If I left now, she'd never know I was
here.

Yeah. . .

Perhaps I should just let her cool down and come back when she's ready.

But. . .

She thinks I don't trust her. And. . .

I don't want her to doubt our bond. After all, it was that lack of trust
that killed Kikyo and I. . . That broke my heart for the first time. . .

~And this is why

My eyes are closed

It's just as well with all I've seen~

"Oh, I give up!"

This outburst yanks me back into reality faster than Kagome can say 'sit'.
Opening my eyes, I watch curiously as Kagome snaps her books shut in
frustration; falling back on her bed with a loud sigh.

"I wonder if he's gotten my note yet. . ." she muses out loud. Then she
snorts softly in amusement. "Of course he has- he's not a late sleeper and
it's nearly two in the afternoon." She sighs again, rolling on to her side
and picking up her alarm clock, stroking it's cool metal in a rather loving
fashion. She giggles slightly as she does so, evidently remembering some of
my not-so-graceful moments. Like when I broke her old clock. . .

I sweatdrop slightly in exasperation. She can't remember my heroic moments.
Oh, no- she has to remember my freaking out at things like cars and clocks
and ovens. . .

"Oh, Inu-Yasha. . ." she whispers, setting the alarm clock back on her
nightstand. "After all the times you've told me similar things. . . I can't
help but wonder if you really meant all that. . . Am I really that much of
a bit- - - ?!"

She jumps and gasps in shock as her window suddenly flies open with a loud
clatter. "What the- - -?!"

But her voice suddenly dies as she sees me, crouched calmly next to her
bed.

"I- Inu-Yasha. . . ?" she gapes, clutching her pillow tightly to her chest
and instinctively scooting into the corner.

"No," I say seriously, looking straight into her surprised blue-gray eyes.
"You're not a bitch. Most of the time."

~And so it goes

And go it goes

And you're the only one who knows~

"Inu-Yasha," Kagome chokes, so shocked to see me that I begin to feel a
little uncomfortable. "What're you doing here- - -?!"

I open my mouth to speak- - -

Shit.

There goes my courage again.

Grumbling quietly I get to my feet, sitting next to her on the bed and
crossing my legs in my usual arrogant style. If only felt as sure of myself
as I looked.

"I came to. . . I dunno, thank you for not giving those assholes your
cards. . . and stuff."

"Yeah. Stuff," I shrug. "Like. . . Um. . ." My hand clutches the rose
tightly, oblivious to the cutting thorns. I had not released it for even a
second since I first received it. "Tell you what I wouldn't tell you
earlier. . ."

"Oh?" she breathes, her voice so soft and timid that I'm afraid I might
break her if I talk too loudly.

"Uh. . . yeah," I press on, wishing that I had a little more confidence
with matters like this. "You see, the thing is. . . er. . . Well, you know
yesterday, when you asked why I cared. . . I. . . well, uh. . . That is, I.
. . Oh, hell!" I snap, irritated at myself beyond all belief. "I love you,
okay?! That's what I was gonna say- and that's why I fucking care if you
give those stupid cards to other guys! I love you, damn it! And I don't
love Kikyo! Not anymore, at least!"

Kagome's wide eyes widened even more as she blinks in surprise.

"Sure, I care about her, we do have a history and all but- aw, fuck, now
I'm just blabbering. Look, the point is that I love you and I care about
you and I trust you and all that crap. I like it when you're with me, and I
want you to stay with me. Forever. Well- for as long as we both live. Oh-
And come back home! Don't stay by yourself in this stupid era. So- - - hey,
are you laughing at me?!"

~So I would choose

To be with you

That's if the choice were mine to make

But you can make

Decisions too

And you can have this heart to break~

Yup.

That's what she was doing. Kagome, tears pouring down her cheeks like twin
rivers, was laughing so hard that she had to fall against me for support.

She shivers involuntarily as her blush darkens and her lashes quiver with
excitement. By the way she's already leaning closer, her lips lightly
pressed to mine, I'd say she's more than ready to take up my offer.

"Okay. Show me pathetic," she smiles, locking her arms around my neck.

"Only if you promise to come back with me," I demand, gently running my
hands through her hair.

"I promise," she vows, trailing her fingers over my cheeks.

"And you won't break my trust?"

"Never," she replies seriously. "Now- kiss me before I'm forced to yank
your forelocks and bring you down myself."

I grace her with an amused grin before fulfilling her request.

God, I love you, Kagome.

~And so it goes

And so it goes

And you're the only one who knows. . . ~

~*~

Cheesy? Yep!

Limy? Sort of!

Fluffy? Oh, yeah! XD

I hope you all enjoyed!

Please R&R!

Ja ne!

The author would like to thank you for your continued support. Your review has been posted.